After months of rumours and speculation, and with just weeks to go before this year’s series of Strictly Come Dancing launches, the star-studded line-up is slowly being revealed. Gladiators star Nitro – whose real name is Harry Aikines-Aryeetey – was the first big name announced for the upcoming season, followed by Dani Dyer, Alex Kingston and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Soap actress Balvinder Sopal is set to join them and head to the dance floor, as she swaps Albert Square for the Argentine Tango. ‘Being on Strictly is a dream that I held on to, with no proof that it would ever happen. Working on EastEnders and being a part of Strictly Come Dancing is the stuff that dreams are made of,’ she said. ‘I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom!’
She revealed she has already done ballroom and Latin dancing as a 'hobby'. 'I think when you've got a passion for something, you're naturally inclined to enjoy it. I'll enjoy it but I don't know if I'll be any good,' she said.
Who is Balvinder Sopal?
Balvinder is an actress, who currently plays Suki Kaur Panesar-Unwin on BBC soap EastEnders.
How old is Balvinder Sopal?
Balvinder was born on 4 December 1978, making her 46.
Where is Balvinder Sopal from?
Balvinder lives in Medway, Kent. ‘I love where I come from. It’s taken me a while to really appreciate how creatively diverse Medway and surrounding areas in Kent are. Sure, some places aren’t as beautiful, affluent or full of rows of quaint little coffee shops, but it is full of heart, and it’s where I grew up,’ she said. ‘It’s where I come from.’
Who is Balvinder Sopal married to?
Balvinder is not believed to be married in real life.
What other shows has Balvinder Sopal been on?
Before joining EastEnders in January 2020, Balvinder has appeared on other soaps Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Doctors. Over her 20-year-long career on stage and screen, she has also been on Waterloo Road and Call The Midwife. But it’s as villainous and protective matriarch Suki and the character’s lesbian relationship with Eve Unwin (portrayed by Heather Peace), which fans called ‘Sukeve’, that she’s made her name.
‘I’ve always played downtrodden, submissive women, so to be out there and sort of the female version of Phil Mitchell, I think is great,’ she said. Eve and Suki married in January, becoming the first lesbian couple to tie the knot on the show.
Shereen Low is a senior news and entertainment writer for Grazia UK, who enjoys watching everything from Love Island and Race Across The World to real-life crime shows and thrillers.